Evesham Town Council 2/6/2018 - Appointing a New Town Manager and Disputing School Enrollment Numbers Again
The proceedings at Town Council last night began with the nomination and vote on appointing our new Township Manager. As has been widely reported, our current Township Manager Tom Czerniecki has accepted a new position at Rowan College. Resolution 61-2018 appointed former Evesham Police Chief Michael Barth to the position by a unanimous 4-0 vote (Councilman DiAndrea was not in attendance.) Chief Barth joined the police department in 1989 and served as Police Chief from 2010 until his retirement in July 2013. Mr Czerniecki introduced Chief Barth, touting his experience as Chief, as a business manager, and as a leader. Chief Barth attended the FBI Leadership Program in 2009, and received the CALEA (Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies) Seal of Approval. As per Mr Czerniecki, he knows how to recruit and affect change, and will bring a non-partisan approach to the position.
Following Chief Barth's appointment, two new Patrolmen were sworn in to serve in the Evesham Police Department. Patrolman Colin Hinklemon is a Marlton native and Holy Cross graduate who enjoys going to the gym and playing on the champion Police Softball Team. Patrolman Bernard Tighe is from Wenonah and attended the Cape May Police Academy. He also enjoys going to the gym and playing on the champion Police Softball Team. (The fact that the Police beat the township team in the most recent softball tournament is a point of pride for Chief Chew and all the officers in attendance.) Welcome to both new Patrolmen and thank you for your service.
Next up were recognition and proclamations for student governments from DeMasi Elementary, DeMasi Middle and Marlton Middle. This follows similar recognition last month to the remainder of the town's elementary school. Each school was called up separately, and the Mayor spoke to each group in turn about their platforms and what they have tried to bring to the schools, including allowing students to chew gum, 'free seating' during lunch period, the 'Winter Blahs', Spirit Week and beginning the planning for a charity 5K run.
Public comment was then opened up and Sandy Student spoke regarding Resolution 67-2018. This resolution awards a contract not to exceed $56,000 for Professional Planning Services to Looney Ricks and Kiss (LRK). Mr Student was part of the prior Vision Study and wanted to praise LRK, who also conducted the prior study back in 2009, which resulted in the publication of the 'Evesham 2020 Vision Plan.' A new study is being done now that the Main Street area has residences/apartments, and the town is hoping to get ideas/planning for how to grow retail in the district. As per Mr Czerniecki, periodic public input is required on the Master Plan. The new Vision study will invite residents to give input on what they are looking for in the downtown area. The Mayor pointed out that there are some empty lots in the area, as well as business that have asked the town to buy their land. The Mayor also made note that Verizon has a lot of land that is currently not being used. The study, when it commences, will be very well publicized so that anyone who wishes to participate will have the option to do so. A more detailed explanation was published in the Marlton Sun.
All ordinances and resolutions passed 4-0, with the following exceptions:
Following Chief Barth's appointment, two new Patrolmen were sworn in to serve in the Evesham Police Department. Patrolman Colin Hinklemon is a Marlton native and Holy Cross graduate who enjoys going to the gym and playing on the champion Police Softball Team. Patrolman Bernard Tighe is from Wenonah and attended the Cape May Police Academy. He also enjoys going to the gym and playing on the champion Police Softball Team. (The fact that the Police beat the township team in the most recent softball tournament is a point of pride for Chief Chew and all the officers in attendance.) Welcome to both new Patrolmen and thank you for your service.
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| Patrolman Hinklemon and family, Mayor Brown and Chief Chew |
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| Patrolman Tighe and family, Mayor Brown and Chief Chew |
Next up were recognition and proclamations for student governments from DeMasi Elementary, DeMasi Middle and Marlton Middle. This follows similar recognition last month to the remainder of the town's elementary school. Each school was called up separately, and the Mayor spoke to each group in turn about their platforms and what they have tried to bring to the schools, including allowing students to chew gum, 'free seating' during lunch period, the 'Winter Blahs', Spirit Week and beginning the planning for a charity 5K run.
Public comment was then opened up and Sandy Student spoke regarding Resolution 67-2018. This resolution awards a contract not to exceed $56,000 for Professional Planning Services to Looney Ricks and Kiss (LRK). Mr Student was part of the prior Vision Study and wanted to praise LRK, who also conducted the prior study back in 2009, which resulted in the publication of the 'Evesham 2020 Vision Plan.' A new study is being done now that the Main Street area has residences/apartments, and the town is hoping to get ideas/planning for how to grow retail in the district. As per Mr Czerniecki, periodic public input is required on the Master Plan. The new Vision study will invite residents to give input on what they are looking for in the downtown area. The Mayor pointed out that there are some empty lots in the area, as well as business that have asked the town to buy their land. The Mayor also made note that Verizon has a lot of land that is currently not being used. The study, when it commences, will be very well publicized so that anyone who wishes to participate will have the option to do so. A more detailed explanation was published in the Marlton Sun.
All ordinances and resolutions passed 4-0, with the following exceptions:
- For Ordinance 3-3-2018, Mr DiEnna voted No. I don't believe an explanation was given.
- For Ordinance 5-3-2018, Mr DiEnna noted he just received the final wording of the ordinance a little after noon and did not have time to review it. He wanted the vote postponed, as he didn't want to vote on a bill he hadn't read. Mayor Brown noted it was only the first reading, so there would be plenty of time to change his vote as needed. Mr DiEnna abstained, but the vote passed 3-0-1.
- Mayor Brown abstained from two votes concerning Jackie's Crossing, Resolutions 76-2018 and 77-2018. Both passed 3-0-1.
Ordinance 5-3-2018 was discussed at length. This ordinance, going through its first reading, will allow for the establishment of a Senior Deputy Township Manager, who can act in the Township Manager's absence. It would also change the titles of existing Deputy Managers (there are 3) to 'Deputy Manager of <something>', as opposed to just Deputy Manager. It would also allow for the establishment of a 4th Deputy Manager. No new positions are being created with this ordinance, just creating the structure if additional positions are needed, if the Township Manager feels them necessary. The Township Manager would then nominate someone for the position, and the Town Council would vote on the nominee.
During final public comment, resident Trish Everhart asked about the new handicapped doors which were supposed to be installed at the library. Mr Czerniecki noted that there was a delay due to the fact that the electronically operated doors needed to be able to operate on emergency backup power, and the current backup generator was at maximum capacity. An MUA electrician will be re-configuring the backup generator and the new doors are expected to be installed in April.
Mr Czerniecki then had some final words regarding this being his last meeting as Township Manager and how the experience has been rewarding, and Mr Gillespie spoke some kind words regarding his time spent with Mr Czerniecki.
And with the governing portion of the night complete, the Mayor decided it was time to attack the Evesham Township Superintendent of Schools and the Evesham Township School Board again. And I apologize for the depth I am going to give here, but I feel it is important. I wanted to review the Mayor's contentions and provide some context. (And its a lot easier to understand the charts and graphs if you are on your computer instead of your phone.)
Mayor Brown began by thanking Zane Clark from the Marlton Sun for his excellent and honest reporting on the most recent school board meeting. It seemed as if the Mayor was thanking him for exposing Mr Scavelli's misdeeds, but in rereading the article by Mr Clark, it seems a very fair and straightforward piece of reporting. In speaking with Mr Clark after the meeting, he seemed a bit confused by the attention.
Mayor Brown stated he was "amazed at what comes out of (Superintendent) John Scavelli's mouth, because nothing is ever the same." He then began referencing Mr Clark's article, noting that the current school projections show the district will have 4,138 student in the 2022-2023 school year, but when the Evans vote took place in March 2016, the school projections said that in September of 2018, we will be at 4,173 kids. "He (Scavelli) has pushed this out 4 more years".
I am not quite sure what 'this' is, but I think Mayor Brown is trying to highlight the fact that it won't be until 2022 that we are close to the projection that was made for 2018. He noted that the Township Planning commission had insisted the enrollment numbers being used were 'false and faulty', and that Mr Scavelli had 'hoodwinked' members of the School Board to close Evans. "Our enrollment numbers from Sundance....almost dead on exact".
At a recent School Board meeting, the Superintendent discussed how a new demographic study was commissioned every year. This keeps them abreast of any changes in population or unexpected change in distribution of children between grade levels. The most recent demographic study was just released by the school board, and the fact that the School District commissions a new study every year is why the numbers change every year.
Mayor Brown continues to focus on the two studies that were done more than 2 years ago. While I am not sure what that accomplishes, and while I believe continuing to focus on them seems counterproductive, let's look at the two studies anyway.
The Whitehall study from January 2016 predicted 4,276 students at the beginning of the 2017-2018 school year, whereas Sundance predicted 4,466. Actual enrollment at the beginning of the school year was 4,426, so Sundance was definitely closer. But actually reading and analyzing the two demographic studies rather than just focusing on a single number reveals a very different story.
Below is a portion of the Sundance Demographic study. Looking at the Barclay Chase and Renaissance Square developments, the study shows they shows they were expected to add a combined 166 children to Evesham enrollment by the beginning of the 2017-18 school year. In actuality, they have contributed zero children, as neither development is currently available for habitation. (Construction on the residential portion of Renaissance Square has not begun as of this writing.) Jackie's Crossing should have added another 20 children, but they just had their grand opening last month, and contributed zero children at the beginning of the 2017-2018 school year. Subtracting those projected 186 children from the original projection, the Sundance study should have shown expected enrollment of 4,240 children (which turns out pretty close to the number that Whitehall had). The Sundance study seems to have assumed construction would have proceeded a bit more aggressively than has actually occurred.
Below is a portion of the Sundance Demographic study. Looking at the Barclay Chase and Renaissance Square developments, the study shows they shows they were expected to add a combined 166 children to Evesham enrollment by the beginning of the 2017-18 school year. In actuality, they have contributed zero children, as neither development is currently available for habitation. (Construction on the residential portion of Renaissance Square has not begun as of this writing.) Jackie's Crossing should have added another 20 children, but they just had their grand opening last month, and contributed zero children at the beginning of the 2017-2018 school year. Subtracting those projected 186 children from the original projection, the Sundance study should have shown expected enrollment of 4,240 children (which turns out pretty close to the number that Whitehall had). The Sundance study seems to have assumed construction would have proceeded a bit more aggressively than has actually occurred.
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| Sundance Demographic Study, revised 6/23/2016, page 6 |
A different and healthier way to look at the numbers, regardless of which demographic study you want to use, is to ask the questions 'Where are we now? And where are we going?' In other words, instead of looking at which two year old demographic study was more accurate for decisions that can't be undone, we can ask the question 'Are we OK now? Will be be OK next year and the year after?'
Where we are now can be ascertained by looking at current enrollment in the elementary schools. (I will leave the middle schools out of this discussion, as there has never been any issue regarding middle school enrollment.) The following slide from a Superintendent presentation in October 2017 reveals that no school is near capacity. Beeler is the closest to capacity at 88%.
Where are we going can be determined by looking at the expected future expectations in enrollment. Enrollment at the beginning of this school year was 4,426. If we look at the latest Whitehall study, we can see that enrollment is expected to decline over the next 5 years.
Similarly, if we look at the two year old Sundance study shown below, we can see that 2018 is the expected high water mark for student enrollment, with enrollment expected to decline steadily over the next 7 years, as shown by the colored bars in the chart below. In addition, the expected enrollment is well below the FES capacity shown on this report of 5,605. (It should be noted that the FES capacity line in the chart below should not be a straight line - it would fluctuate based on the number of classrooms per grade, as well as the number of Special Education classrooms.)
Based on all the data, it would appear the schools have room for additional students, but additional students are not expected, regardless of which demographic report you use.
Similarly, if we look at the two year old Sundance study shown below, we can see that 2018 is the expected high water mark for student enrollment, with enrollment expected to decline steadily over the next 7 years, as shown by the colored bars in the chart below. In addition, the expected enrollment is well below the FES capacity shown on this report of 5,605. (It should be noted that the FES capacity line in the chart below should not be a straight line - it would fluctuate based on the number of classrooms per grade, as well as the number of Special Education classrooms.)
Based on all the data, it would appear the schools have room for additional students, but additional students are not expected, regardless of which demographic report you use.
Just a reminder that there is an Evesham Township School District public budget session on February 13th at 6:30 pm at DeMasi. If you have any questions for the school board, there is the perfect time to ask them.